Package

ABSTRACT

A package having a container and a selectively openable lid to selectively allow access to the container is disclosed.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/639,647, filed Mar. 7, 2018, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a container, and more specifically to a container for storing perishables that has features for resisting undesired opening.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to provide a container for storing items, which may include perishable items, that also has features that make opening it child resistant.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments according to the present disclosure provide a package with one or more selectively openable and/or closable lid portions.

In one aspect, for instance, a package is provided that includes a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region and a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user. The lid includes at least one depressible tab configured to engage a corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container. The at least one depressible tab is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tab is configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tab is configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.

In another aspect, for instance, a package is provided that includes a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region, a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user. The lid includes at least one pair of depressible tabs configured to engage corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container. The at least one pair of depressible tabs is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tabs are configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tabs are configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.

In yet another aspect, a package is provided that includes a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region, and a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user. The lid includes at least one depressible tab configured to engage a corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container. The at least one depressible tab is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tab is configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tab is configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position. The package includes a removable shelf member that is insertable into the product storage region, the removable shelf having a side wall configured to slidingly engage the side wall of the container. The shelf member has at least one shelf extending away from the shelf member side wall. The at least one shelf extending away from the shelf member is configured to remove contents from the product storage region when a user removes the shelf member from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may be illustrated or described in many different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a package in a closed position;

FIG. 2a illustrates a top portion of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b illustrates a top portion of the package of FIG. 2a in an open position;

FIG. 3 illustrates the package of FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of another embodiment of a package in a closed position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the package of FIG. 4 in an open position;

FIG. 6 illustrates the package of FIG. 1 with a shelf partially removed from the package;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a package in a closed position;

FIG. 9a illustrates a top portion of the package of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9b illustrates a top portion of the package of FIG. 9a in an open position;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the package of FIG. 8 in an open position;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a shelf configured for use with the package of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of the package of FIG. 10 including the shelf of FIG. 11 partially inserted;

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of the package of FIG. 10 in a closed position;

FIG. 14 illustrates a first side view of the package of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 illustrates a second side view of the package of FIG. 13, which is opposite the first side view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 illustrates a back view of the package of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 illustrates a front view of the package of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of the package of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 19 illustrates a bottom view of the package of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may take many different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms “substantial” or “substantially” may encompass the whole as specified, according to certain embodiments, or largely but not the whole specified according to other embodiments.

Some embodiments of a package 500 may include a container 510 and/or a lid 520, as shown in FIG. 1. Lid 520 may be selectively openable relative to container 510 to allow access to and/or egress from an interior region of container 510. The interior region of container 510 may be at least partially defined by a container floor 511 and a container side wall 512. Lid 520 may include a top 521, which may extend from a first end 523 to a second end 524, and a side wall 522 coupled to top 521. Lid 520 may be positionable between a closed position, substantially covering the interior region of container 510, and an open position, allowing access to interior region of container 510.

Tabs 525 may be provided, such as those shown in FIG. 1, for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to providing a locking mechanism and/or a child resistant opening feature. For example, any or all of tabs 525 may extend downwardly from either or both ends 523, 524 of lid 520, and/or upwardly from container 510 toward lid 520, to form a deflectable cantilever-type member. Tab 525 may include a protruding portion to engage with slot 515 of container 510 (or the slot may be on lid 520 if tab 525 is on container 510). It is understood that container 510 may be a single and/or substantially integral or unitary piece, or it may include separate pieces. For example, a top portion of container 510, where tab 525 engages it, may be a separate piece that is coupled and/or attached to container 510. Tab 525 may be configured to engage slot 515 and lock lid 520, lid first end 523, and/or lid second end 524 in a closed position by preventing tab 525 or adjacent portions of lid 520 from raising above slot 515 or adjacent portions of container 510 until tab 525 is inwardly deflected, pushed, and/or depressed. Lid 520 may include actuatable members such as push buttons 526 attached, coupled, and/or integral to tabs 525 to allow a user to deflect tabs 525 by pressing, pushing, deflecting, depressing, and/or actuating push buttons 526.

Package 500 may include a latching or locking mechanism, such as may be formed between tabs 525 and slots 515, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b . Tabs 525 may be coupled and/or attached to lid 520, for example at or near either or both ends 523, 524. Tabs 525 may extend downwardly from lid 520 and/or be configured to be inserted into and/or through slots 515. Tabs 525 may include an angled surface to facilitate entry into slot 515 when closing lid 520, and/or tabs 525 may include a lip or mechanical stop that will latch onto an area of container 510 surrounding slot 515. Such a latch or blocking mechanism may prevent or inhibit opening of lid 520 relative to container 510 when tabs 525 are so engaged. A user may actuate or push an area such as push button 526 to move tab 525 and disengage tab 525 from slot 515, allowing a user to then open lid 520 as shown in FIG. 2b , for example, rotating lid 520 about a hinge 530.

Package 500 is shown in an open position in FIG. 3. Hinge 530 is shown interposed along a side of container 510 and lid 520 and interposed between tabs 525. Hinge 530 may be any of a variety of hinges or other mechanisms, or may be absent. Lid 520 may rotate open about hinge 530, if included, to reveal the interior storage region of container 510, defined by floor 511 and side wall 512, as shown.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of package 600. In this embodiment, package 600 may include a container 610 and/or a lid 620. Lid 620 may be selectively openable relative to container 610 to allow access to and/or egress from an interior region of container 610. The interior region of container 610 may be at least partially defined by a container floor 611 and a container side wall 612. Lid 620 may include a top 621, which may extend from a first end 623 to a second end 624, and a side wall 622 coupled to top 621. Lid 620 may be positionable between a closed position, substantially covering the interior region of container 610, and an open position, allowing access to interior region of container 610.

Tabs 625 may be provided, such as those shown in FIG. 4, for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to providing a locking mechanism and/or a child resistant opening feature. For example, any or all of tabs 625 may extend downwardly from either or both ends 623, 624 of lid 620, and/or upwardly from container 610 toward lid 620, to form a deflectable cantilever-type member. Tab 625 may include a protruding portion to engage with slot 615 of container 610 (or the slot may be on lid 620 if tab 625 is on container 610). Tab 625 may be configured to engage slot 615 and lock lid 620, lid first end 623, and/or lid second end 624 in a closed position by preventing tab 625 or adjacent portions of lid 620 from raising above slot 615 or adjacent portions of container 610 until tab 625 is inwardly deflected, pushed, and/or depressed. Lid 620 may include actuatable members such as push buttons 626 attached, coupled, and/or integral to tabs 625 to allow a user to deflect tabs 625 by pressing, pushing, deflecting, depressing, and/or actuating push buttons 626.

Package 600 may include a latching or locking mechanism, such as may be formed between tabs 625 and slots 615, as shown in FIG. 4. Tabs 625 may be coupled and/or attached to lid 620, for example at or near either or both ends 623, 624. Tabs 625 may extend downwardly from lid 620 and/or be configured to be inserted into and/or through slots 615. Tabs 625 may include an angled surface to facilitate entry into slot 615 when closing lid 620, and/or tabs 625 may include a lip or mechanical stop that will latch onto an area of container 610 surrounding slot 615. Such a latch or blocking mechanism may prevent or inhibit opening of lid 620 relative to container 610 when tabs 625 are so engaged. A user may actuate or push an area such as push button 626 to move tab 625 and disengage tab 625 from slot 615, allowing a user to then open lid 620, for example, rotating lid 620 about a hinge 630 to provide an open position of package 600 shown in FIG. 5. Aspects of the description of hinge 530 may apply to hinge 630.

A shelf member 550 is illustrated partially removed from package 500 in FIG. 6. An embodiment of package 500, 600 or other embodiments of a package discussed below, may include a shelf member 550. Shelf member 550 may be insertable and/or slideable into container 510, 610. Shelf member 550 may be included for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to providing a partition and/or separate storage regions within the interior storage region of container 510, 610.

Shelf member 550 is shown in more detail in FIG. 7. Shelf member 550 may include a side wall 551, a first shelf 552, a second shelf 553, and/or a pull tab 554. It is understood that any number of shelves may be used in virtually any size, shape, orientation, and/or configuration. Shelf member 550 may be configured for use with any embodiment of package 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 described herein.

Yet another embodiment of a package 700 is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, package 700 may be provided with a single tab 725 and/or a single push button 726, which may be disposed opposite the hinge 730. Some embodiments of package 700 may include a container 710 and/or a lid 720. Lid 720 may be selectively openable relative to container 710 to allow access to and/or egress from an interior region of container 710. The interior region of container 710 may be at least partially defined by a container floor 711 and a container side wall 712. Lid 720 may include a top 721, which may extend from a first end 723 to a second end 724, and a side wall 722 coupled to top 721. Lid 720 may be positionable between a closed position, substantially covering the interior region of container 710, and an open position, allowing access to interior region of container 710.

Tabs 725 may be provided, such as those shown in FIG. 8, for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to providing a locking mechanism and/or a child resistant opening feature. For example, any or all of tabs 725 may extend downwardly from either or both ends 723, 724 of lid 720, and/or upwardly from container 710 toward lid 720, to form a deflectable cantilever-type member. Tab 725 may include a protruding portion to engage with slot 715 of container 710 (or the slot may be on lid 720 if tab 725 is on container 710). Tab 725 may be configured to engage slot 715 and lock lid 720, lid first end 723, and/or lid second end 724 in a closed position by preventing tab 725 or adjacent portions of lid 720 from raising above slot 715 or adjacent portions of container 710 until tab 725 is inwardly deflected, pushed, and/or depressed. Lid 720 may include actuatable members such as push buttons 726 attached, coupled, and/or integral to tabs 725 to allow a user to deflect tabs 725 by pressing, pushing, deflecting, depressing, and/or actuating push buttons 726.

Package 700 may include a latching or locking mechanism, such as may be formed between tabs 725 and slots 715, as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b . Tabs 725 may be coupled and/or attached to lid 720, for example at or near either or both ends 723, 724. Tabs 725 may extend downwardly from lid 720 and/or be configured to be inserted into and/or through slots 715. Tabs 725 may include an angled surface to facilitate entry into slot 715 when closing lid 720, and/or tabs 725 may include a lip or mechanical stop that will latch onto an area of container 710 surrounding slot 715. Such a latch or blocking mechanism may prevent or inhibit opening of lid 720 relative to container 710 when tabs 725 are so engaged. A user may actuate or push an area such as push button 726 to move tab 725 and disengage tab 725 from slot 715, allowing a user to then open lid 720 as shown in FIG. 9b , for example, rotating lid 720 about a hinge 730. A feature for facilitating engagement of tab 725 with slot 715 upon closing lid 720 may be included. For example, an outwardly projecting scoop 727 may be included to catch the leading tip of tab 725 as it is closing relative to container 710, and/or guide tab 725 into locking engagement with slot 715. Scoop 727 may have an opening in it and/or be open at bottom to allow access to button 715 when lid 720 is in the closed position. Scoop 727 may be open at the top to allow entry of tab 725 when lid 720 is moved from the open position to the closed position. Scoop 727 may have a larger inner diameter or dimension near the top and a smaller inner diameter or dimension near the bottom, and/or may have an angled inner surface relative to tab 725 when tab 725 is in the closed position, to easily accept tab 725 when it is moved from the open position to the closed position and to gently or gradually guide tab 725 into the closed and/or locked position shown in FIG. 9 a.

Package 700 is shown in an open position in FIG. 10. Hinge 730 is shown, and may be any of a variety of hinges, such as a living hinge, or other mechanisms, or may be absent. Lid 720 may rotate open about hinge 730, if included, from the closed position to the open position to reveal the interior storage region of container 710, defined by floor 711 and side wall 712, as shown. Lid 720 may rotate closed about hinge 730, if included, to enclose and/or block user access to the interior storage region of container 710. Lid 720 may rotate between the open and closed position as urged by a user input about hinge 730.

Shelf member 750, as shown for example in FIGS. 11 and 12, may be configured for use with package 700 and/or container 710. For example, shelf 750 may operate and/or be configured somewhat similarly to shelf 550 discussed above. Shelf 750 may include a shelf side wall 751, a first shelf 751, a second shelf 752, and/or a pull tab 754. Although shelf 750 is shown partially inserted into container 710 in FIG. 12, shelf 750 may be configured to be insertable into container 710 sufficiently low that lid 720 may close and tab 725 may latch with slot 715. Shelf side wall 751 may be configured, sized, and/or shaped to slide into and/or slidingly engage an inner surface of container 710. Pull tab 754 may be included to provide a user a mechanism to more easily grasp shelf member 750 and insert it and/or remove it from container 710. One or more shelves, such as first shelf 751 and/or second shelf 752 may be included for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, dividing the product storage region within container 710 into one or more compartments for separating products therein, and/or to facilitate removal of products stored therein.

FIGS. 13-19 show the embodiment of package 700 in more detail from various views. Package 700 may be configured, sized, and/or shaped to facilitate being held by one hand of a user and allowing actuation of button 726 and/or tab 725. For example, a user may hold package 700 in one hand and actuate button 726 with the thumb or a finger of the same hand to disengage tab 725 from slot 715 and allow lid 720 to rotate open about hinge 730. The user may gain access to the product storage region of container 710 in this way, for example.

It is understood that package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof, may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, any of a variety of suitable plastics material, any other material, or any combination thereof. Suitable plastics material may include, but is not limited to, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate (CPET), mixtures and combinations thereof, or any other plastics material or any mixtures and combinations thereof. It is understood that multiple layers of material may be used for any of a variety of reasons, including to improve barrier properties, or to provide known functions related to multiple layer structures. The multiple layers, if included, may be of various materials, including but not limited to those recited herein.

It is further understood that package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof, may be substantially rigid, substantially flexible, a hybrid of rigid and flexible, or any combination of rigid, flexible, and/or hybrid, such as having some areas be flexible and some rigid. It is understood that these examples are merely illustrative, are not limiting, and are provided to illustrate the versatility of options available in various embodiments of package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof.

It is further understood that any of a variety of processes or combination thereof may be used to form package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof, or any layer or substrate used therein. For example, any component, layer, or substrate, or combination thereof, may be thermoformed, injection molded, injection stretch blow molded, blow molded, extrusion blow molded, coextruded, subjected to any other suitable process, or subjected to any combination thereof. In some embodiments, package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof may be formed substantially of injection molded and/or thermoformed suitable plastics material, although other materials and forming processes may be used instead of or in addition to injection molding and thermoforming, respectively. Various materials and/or processes may be used to form package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, container 510, 610, 710, lid 520, 620, 720, and/or shelf 550, 750, and/or any component thereof, may be substantially a one-piece design and/or substantially formed as an integral or unitary structure.

It is understood that, while some directional terms are used herein, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, inward, outward, upward, downward, etc., these terms are not intended to be limiting but rather to relate to one or more exemplary orientations, positions, and/or configurations of package 500, 600, or 700, and/or any component thereof. It is understood that any component of package 500, 600, 700 may be oriented differently than shown in the various figures so that, for example, a different portion of container 510, 610, 710, other than floor 511, 611, 711 is in contact with an underlying surface.

These and other modifications and variations may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and it is not intended to limit the scope of that which is described in the claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the exemplary description of the versions contained herein. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A package, comprising: a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region; and a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user; wherein the lid includes at least one depressible tab configured to engage a corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container; and wherein the at least one depressible tab is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tab is configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tab is configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
 2. The package of claim 1, further comprising a container flange proximate an opening into the product storage region and extending outwardly away from the container.
 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the container flange includes the container slot configured to engage the at least one depressible tab.
 4. The package of claim 3, wherein the container flange includes a scoop with an angled inner surface configured to guide the at least one depressible tab into the locked state with the container slot when a user moves the lid from the open position to the closed position.
 5. The package of claim 1, further comprising a hinge coupling the lid to the container, wherein the lid is rotatable upon a user input from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa, about the hinge.
 6. The package of claim 5, wherein the at least one depressible tab is located on the lid opposite the hinge.
 7. The package of claim 1, further comprising a removable shelf member that is selectively insertable and removable from the product storage region.
 8. The package of claim 7, wherein the removable shelf member includes a shelf side wall and a first shelf extending outwardly from the shelf side wall.
 9. The package of claim 8, wherein the removable shelf member includes a second shelf extending outwardly from the shelf side wall in spaced apart relationship with the first shelf.
 10. A package, comprising: a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region; and a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user; wherein the lid includes at least one pair of depressible tabs configured to engage corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container; and wherein the at least one pair of depressible tabs is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tabs are configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tabs are configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
 11. The package of claim 10, further comprising a container flange proximate an opening into the product storage region and extending outwardly away from the container.
 12. The package of claim 11, wherein the container flange includes the container slots configured to engage the at least one pair of depressible tabs.
 13. The package of claim 10, wherein the lid is movable from the closed position to the open position, and from the open position to the closed position, about a hinge.
 14. The package of claim 13, wherein the lid hinge lies along an axis of lid rotation that is substantially parallel to a line through the at least one pair of depressible tabs.
 15. The package of claim 10, further comprising a removable shelf member that is selectively insertable and removable from the product storage region.
 16. The package of claim 15, wherein the removable shelf member includes a shelf side wall and a first shelf extending outwardly from the shelf side wall.
 17. The package of claim 16, wherein the removable shelf member includes a second shelf extending outwardly from the shelf side wall in spaced apart relationship with the first shelf.
 18. A package assembly, comprising: a container having a floor and a side wall that cooperate to form a product storage region; a lid having a top that is movable between a closed position in which the cover is at least partially blocking access to the product storage region, and an open position in which the cover is at least partially moved away from the closed position such that the product storage region is accessible by a user; wherein the lid includes at least one depressible tab configured to engage a corresponding slot of the container and selectively retain the lid in a locked state with the container; and wherein the at least one depressible tab is selectively moved by a user from a relaxed state in which the depressible tab is configured to retain the lid in a locked state, and a compressed state in which the depressible tab is configured to allow the lid to move from the closed position to the open position; and a removable shelf member that is insertable into the product storage region, the removable shelf having a side wall configured to slidingly engage the side wall of the container, wherein the shelf member has at least one shelf extending away from the shelf member side wall, and wherein the at least one shelf extending away from the shelf member is configured to remove contents from the product storage region when a user removes the shelf member from the container.
 19. The package assembly of claim 18, wherein the removable shelf member includes a pull tab configured to be grasped by a user to remove the shelf member from the container.
 20. The package assembly of claim 18, wherein the removable shelf member includes a second shelf extending outwardly from the shelf side wall in spaced apart relationship with the first shelf. 